Assembly device for spelling blocks



Feb. 22, 1949.

A. l. HORWITZ ASSEMBLYDEVICE FOR SPELLING BLOCKS Filed May 26. 1947 INVQnYon Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATS r snr :orricr.

Adolf Israel Horwitz, London, iEnglarrd, -assi'gnor to Olafirn Limited, London, EnglandaBritish company Application May 26, 1947, Serial No. 750,538 InGreat Britain June 25, 19 46 i'Claims. 1

This :invention relates 'to spelling or word building games and apparatus for use therein and has :for its object to provide simple, convenient and attractive apparatus by means or which'children can easily and readily learn the art of spelling and the formation of 'WOldS as well asinumerical notation.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for use in spelling or word-building wherein a plurality of uprights are supported and spaced apart laterally and longitudinally in and of a box in order to support an alphabetical jletter or letters which can be assembled :in the spaces between the uprights in order to form a word or words. The letters, numbers or other desired hieroglyphics may be indicated on each table or either table of invertible double-ended table the two tables being interconnected by a supporting pillar of such a size that the letter-tables can be moved in and along the spaces between the uprights. On the same level as the latter and inside the box, rails are provided which extend round the sides and ends of the box in order that the double-ended letter tables can be stored in the space between the rail and the tables carried by the uprights.

The nature of the invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows diagrammatically and by way of example and not by way of limitation, a specific embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for use in a spelling or word building game in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2--2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4 drawn to an enlarged scale is a perspective view of a loose letter table or support for use in playing the game in accordance with the present invention.

Like references wherever repeated designate the same or similar parts throughout the several figures of the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing which shows an exemplified embodiment of the invention there is provided an apparatus for use in spelling or word-building comprising a box it] which may have a hinged lid or a push-on lid or a push-in lid or a lid which is entirely removable. Extending along the sides and ends and secured thereto inside the box or moulded or cast with the latter,

.2 :a rail :l2 is provided "the "purpose .of which as hereinafter described. A plurality ro'f lupright tables is :is provided each having :a centrally arranged pillar t6. These "latter may rbel'removably or permanently secured to- 'ai'rem'ovable base or the said pillars mayibewadapted .to enage in recesses 18 or .holes in thezibottomizfiuof the box It and :be a push-in .fit rinthessaidiiholes l3. There may be any desired: number of eupright tables 14 and these Iareispa'cedrapart in order to leave laterally aligned spaces 221and longitudinally aligned spaces 24 or rows ofispaces or lanes between the upright tables It, :and between the rail l2 and the adjacentupright talbles hi. One end of the box maybe hinged totthe box or it may be slid into closing position. 31f the upright tables 14 'be mounted on a base as. distinct from the bottom of the box then the base may be lifted out of :the box or slid end wise into and outof the box. The upright tables M are conveniently of square contour.

A plurality of letter tables 26 are provided each. comprising a supporting pillar 28 .to each :end of which a square or other suitably shaped table ill, 32 is secured. These latter tables 26 hereinafter referred to as letter-tables form carriers for letters such as 34 numerals or other desired hieroglyphics. For example the table at one end of the supporting pillar 28 may bear a numeral or the letter T as shown in Figure 4 and the table 32 at the other end of the pillar 28 may bear the same letter or a different letter. These letter tables 26 are invertible and may be slid into the spaces 22, 24 between the upright tables I4 and assembled to form a word or words with or without a numeral. In the drawing several alphabetical letter tables are shown in haphazard positions. The spaces between the uprights form lanes along which the invertible letter-tables 26 can be moved by the fingers. The letters, numerals or other hieroglyphics may be printed, transferred, embossed or applied to the desired surface in any suitable manner.

When not in use the invertible letter-table 26 can be stored in the space between the aforesaid rail l2 and the adjacent upright tables. In this position the upper letter-tables rest on the rail l2 and on the adjacent square or squares of the upright tables l4.

Obviously the size of each letter-table supporting pillar 28 must be less than the width of each space in order to permit of the letter-tables being moved along the lanes or spaces between the upright tables.

The part 28 connecting the end tables of the an angle of 180 so that the letter on the upper square, or if on the lower square, whichever is uppermost, can be inverted or turnedupside down.

'The upright tables which are spaced apart to provide the spaces may be provided as integral parts of the box'bottom, as by moulding or casting, or they may be pushed into recesses or holes in the box bottom or pushed on to pins projecting upward from the box bottom. The spaced apart upright tables are normally stationary. The latter, may however be removably supported individually or as a whole in the box.

If desired the letters may be provided as loose items each provided with a pin on the lower surface in order thatthe pin may be pushed into the respective square as into a hole therein and thus hold the letter in position.

'The apparatus may be made of wood, metal, plastic material or any desired combination thereof and may be built up, moulded or cast to form a single unit.

Iclaim: V r

'1. 'Apparatusfor use in connection with spelling, word-building and like games, comprising a tray having a bottom and upstanding sides, a plurality of similar tables upstanding from the bottom of the tray and arran ed inspaced rank and file with a plurality of tables in each rank and each file each table comprising a central pillar and a rectangular top extending laterally from the pillar around the upper end thereof, the lower ends of which tables are fitted within recesses formed in the bottom of the tray to hold the tables in the spaced ranks and files with the edges of the table tops in line in each rank and each file so as to form straight intersecting passageways between the ranks and files, a plurality of letter elements each having a stem received within one of the passageways and manually movable therealong and from one passageway to another and each'having enlarged top and bottom portions attached to the two ends of the stem respectively to lie respectively above and below and to overlap the edges of successive" pairs of table tops as the element is moved and the upper end of. each of which letter-elements carries on its upper surface a symbol;

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the tops of the tables are square and the enlarged tops of the letter-elements are of similar size and shape to the table tops.

3. Apparatus 'according'to claim 1 in which a space is provided between the outer rows of tables and the upstanding .sides of the tray, in which space the letter elements may be stored.

i. Apparatus according to claim 3 in'wl'u'ch the lower endsrof the elements in the space are engaged by the edge Of the tray and by the table tops to retain the element'son the tray.

, ADOLF ISRAEL HORWITZ.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

